Gasteraloe Plant Named &#39;OVROCKS07&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS07’ which is characterized by dark green foliage with a soft mucronate tip that is strongly suffused with a dark greyed-orange coloration, foliage which is densely covered with very light green protuberances on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, foliar protuberances that are arranged in irregular yet distinct longitudinal lines along the midrib and margins and otherwise randomly arranged on the leaf surface, and finely dentate foliar margins with light green teeth that are lightly suffused with greyed-orange. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3114, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Gasteraloe beguinii.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Gasteraloe disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVROCKS07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVROCKS07’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Gasteraloe beguinii plant (not patented). The inventor of ‘OVROCK07’ is a commercial ornamental plant producer and regularly discovers mutations of Gasteraloe at his greenhouse operation in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. For said mutations which seem to exhibit commercial potential, cuttings are taken to produce trial plants which are subsequently grown for evaluation.

The variety now called ‘OVROCKS07’ was initially discovered in the summer of 2016 as a whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Gasteraloe plant which exhibited lighter green foliage with uniquely arranged foliar protuberances. At the time of discovery, cuttings were taken and the resulting plants were evaluated at the inventor's greenhouse. After further evaluation it was determined that the candidate plant's unique foliage characteristics would prove favorable for commercial marketability. The new variety was given the breeder denomination ‘OVROCKS07’.

Asexual Reproduction: The variety now called ‘OVROCKS07’ was first asexually propagated by stem cuttings in the summer of 2016 at a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has since been vegetatively propagated through four additional generations. Through subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVROCKS07’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVROCKS07’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVROCKS07’ as a new and distinct Gasteraloe cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVROCKS07’ exhibits ovate to narrowly deltoid foliage         spirally arranged in a basal rosette; and     -   2. ‘OVROCKS07’ exhibits dark green foliage with a soft mucronate         tip that is strongly suffused with a dark greyed-orange         coloration; and     -   3. ‘OVROCKS07’ exhibits foliage which is densely covered with         very light green foliar protuberances on both the adaxial and         abaxial surfaces, arranged in irregular yet distinct         longitudinal lines along the midrib and margins and otherwise         randomly arranged on the leaf surface.     -   4. ‘OVROCKS07’ exhibits finely dentate margins with light green         teeth which are lightly suffused with greyed-orange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVROCKS07’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVROCKS07’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVROCKS07’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVROCKS07’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘OVROCKS07’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Gasteraloe which consisted of minimal overhead irrigation and fertilizer applications. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production. Plants were grown under shade (approximately 10,000 lux) and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVROCKS07’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVROCKS07’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             compact, non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—7.8 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 14.1 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21             degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce             a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Gasteraloe pests             and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root System:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a             basal rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Spirally arranged in a basal rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 40 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Ovate to narrowly deltoid.         -   Dimensions.—8.0 cm long, 3.2 cm wide, and 0.9 cm thick.         -   Aspect.—Flat to very slightly concave.         -   Attitude.—Foliage is held more upright at and near the             center of the rosette and becomes progressively more relaxed             towards the outer whorls of foliage, to an average angle of             35 degrees from horizontal.         -   Apex.—Apiculate with a soft mucronate tip.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Finely dentate; teeth have an average length of 0.2             cm and are colored green-white, nearest to RHS 157A, with             the exception of the abaxial surface of the juvenile teeth             which are colored green-white, nearest to RHS 191C; all             marginal teeth are lightly suffused with greyed-orange,             nearest to RHS N170D. Margins are not undulated or lobed.         -   Pubescence and texture of the adaxial surface.—Glabrous,             smooth, and densely covered with small, round protuberances             that are arranged in irregular yet distinct longitudinal             lines along the midrib and margins and otherwise randomly             arranged on the leaf surface; protuberance along the midrib             and margins are approximately 0.03 cm tall and 0.03 cm in             diameter; other protuberances are approximately 0.075 cm             tall and 0.075 cm in diameter.         -   Pubescence and texture of the abaxial surface.—Glabrous,             smooth, and densely covered with small, round protuberances             that are arranged in irregular yet distinct longitudinal             lines along the midrib and margins and otherwise randomly             arranged on the leaf surface; protuberance along the midrib             and margins are approximately 0.03 cm tall and 0.03 cm in             diameter; other protuberances are approximately 0.05 cm tall             and 0.05 cm in diameter.         -   Luster of the adaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Luster of the abaxial surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to             in between RHS NN137A and 139A, and fading to yellow-green             towards the base, nearest to RHS 152B. The mucronate tip is             colored greyed-orange, nearest to RHS N170D. Protuberances             are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191B. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS NN137A, and             fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS             152B. The mucronate tip is colored greyed-orange, nearest to             RHS N170D. Protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest             to RHS 191B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green to             yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS NN137A and 147A, and             fading to grey at the base, nearest to RHS 201D, and lightly             suffused with white, nearest to RHS N155C. The mucronate tip             is colored greyed-orange, nearest to RHS N170D.             Protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191B.             Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS             139A, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS             143A; base is greyed-orange, nearest to RHS N170D, and             lightly suffused with white, nearest to RHS N155C. The             mucronate tip is colored greyed-orange, nearest to RHS             N170D. Protuberances are colored greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 191B.         -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial             surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —             No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS07’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed

-   -   -   Gasteraloe plant (not patented) in the following             characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS07’ The parent. General coloration In between green and dark In between green and of the yellow-green; generally greyed-green; foliage. appearing as generally lighter green appearing as by comparison to the darker green parent. by comparison to ‘OVROCKS07’. Abundance of More abundant than the Less abundant than protuberances on the parent. ‘OVROCKS07’. abaxial foliar surface. Arrangement of Arranged in irregular yet Randomly arranged the foliar distinct longitudinal lines on the protuberances. along the midrib and leaf surface. margins and otherwise randomly arranged on the leaf surface. General coloration Greyed-green, appearing White. of the as very light green. foliar protuberances. Foliage margins; More abundant than Less abundant than abundance of the ‘OVROCKS06’. ‘OVROCKS07’. marginal teeth. Foliage margins; Green-white and lightly Green-white. color of suffused with greyed- the marginal teeth. orange.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVROCKS07’ differ from the most similar variety known to the inventor, Gasteraloe ‘OVROCKS06’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,673), in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVROCKS07’ ‘OVROCKS06’ Foliage attitude. More relaxed than More upright than ‘OVROCKS06’. ‘OVROCKS07’. General coloration In between green and dark In between green and of the yellow-green; generally greyed-green; foliage. appearing as generally lighter green appearing as by comparison to darker green ‘OVPEARLS06’. by comparison to ‘OVROCKS07’. Abundance of Less abundant than More abundant than protuberances ‘OVROCKS06’. ‘OVROCKS07’. on the abaxial foliar surface. Arrangement of Arranged in irregular yet Randomly arranged the foliar distinct longitudinal lines on the protuberances. along the midrib and leaf surface. margins and otherwise randomly arranged on the leaf surface. General coloration Greyed-green. Between white and of the green-white. foliar protuberances. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Gasteraloe plant named ‘OVROCKS07’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 